Brown had been committed to Liberty for nearly six months prior to signing with Auburn, committing to play for Freeze in Conference USA. Recruiting and the coaching carousel are hardly ever predictable, though, and the two intertwined at the end of the 2022 season.

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze and quarterback Hank Brown fundamentally need each other if they're going to survive and thrive against the SEC.

AUBURN — Auburn football hosted New Mexico at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday in its third straight home game of the 2024 season, with redshirt freshman quarterback Hank Brown making his first start. He replaces Payton Thorne, who threw four interceptions in the previous week's 21-14 loss to Cal.